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Zamboanga del Sur News February 2013
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Cerilles couple charged with plunder by staff
- Source:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/355703/cerilles-couple-charged-with-plunder-by-staffm
- Sunday, February 10, 2013 5:09 am
- By Cynthia D. Balana (With a report from Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines—Six former and current members of the staff of Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora Cerilles and her husband, provincial Gov. Antonio Cerilles, have charged the couple with plunder, malversation and falsification in the Office of the Ombudsman.
The complainants were Raul Molina and Tyrone Singgo, two former chiefs of staff of Aurora Cerilles; and for Antonio Cerilles, Pedro Ramirez Jr., current Zamboanga del Sur OIC provincial treasurer; Bernadette Ordoñez, acting provincial accountant; Rogelio Montealto, provincial budget officer, and Mustapha Piang, former executive assistant of the provincial government for Muslim affairs.
In their complaint, they accused the Cerilles couple of spending public funds for their “personal and private use and sought their preventive suspension from office while the case is being investigated.
“As trusted staff and confidants, we were directed to perform various tasks for the Cerilles couple, including personal ones, and often worked beyond regular working hours and days,” Molina and Singgo said in their joint complaint dated Jan. 24.
Governor Cerilles, however, dismissed the accusations as part of the widescale political attacks against him and his family.
“Malakas ang mga galamay ng mga taong (They are powerful, those) responsible for this and they timed it during the political season,” Cerilles told the Inquirer by phone on Saturday afternoon.
Cerilles cited three motives of the complainants. He said they wanted to cover up the Aman case which is gaining ground against Mayor Samuel Co. Secondly, the Jalosjoses wanted to level the playing field after Dominador Jalosjos was delisted by the Comelec due to a criminal case, and thirdly, those who filed the plunder charges were being investigated by the Commission on Audit.
The complainants said they were forced to file a case after learning in 2011 that they were on the hit list of the Provincial Special Operations Group (PSOG), which they claimed was notorious for the extrajudicial killing of political and personal enemies of the Cerilles couple.
Gov. Antonio Cerilles. http://www.congress.gov.ph
Governor Cerilles, however, denied threatening those behind the plunder charges.
Both Molina and Singgo alleged that provincial funds were spent and equipment was used for the private and personal benefit of the couple. They submitted voluminous documents to prove their claims.
These included the renovation of the Cerilles-owned Hotel Alindahaw; the purchase of office supplies and equipment for the Philippine Para-Medical and Technical School, a private school allegedly owned by the Cerilleses; public funds and equipment for their fishpond in Pitogo; home supplies, including a water dispenser, kitchen utensils and grocery items; hardware materials for the renovation of the Cerilleses’ warehouse in Lebangan, and public funds for campaign materials and office supplies of the party headquarters of the couple during the 2007 elections.
The complainants further alleged that the couple operated the “suertes” illegal numbers game which was managed by provincial employees.
P30-M withdrawal alleged
Ramirez, meanwhile, claimed the couple used the intelligence and trust funds of the province for their personal use and for election purposes.
He said that a month before the May 2010 elections, then Gov. Aurora Cerilles withdrew P30 million in one week “with instructions that the money be in denominations of P100 and P500.”
Montealto and Piang, who were both ambushed, blamed the couple for the attacks.
In July 2012, the Ombudsman filed graft charges against Aurora Cerilles in the Sandiganbayan for overpriced medical supplies bought in 2001 for P7 million. The COA found that the medical supplies were procured solely from U-Net Distributors Corp.
Turning the tables on his accusers, Cerilles said Ramirez was under investigation for using government trust fund and IRA fund services. He said this was the reason all the financial benefits and salaries of Ramirez were placed on hold.
He also said he placed Montealto and Ordoñez on floating status because of some anomalous transactions.
Cerilles said Molina bought two brand new cars in Cagayan de Oro City while working for his wife but resigned when she called for a lifestyle check.
Kidnappers ask for Php50-M ransom
- Source:http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/top-stories/44521-kidnappers-ask-for-php50-m-ransom
- Saturday, February 9, 2013 00:00
- By Alfred Dalizon
POLICE yesterday pressed their hunt for the gunmen who kidnapped a one-year-old Filipino-Canadian and his nanny in Pagadian City Thursday morning.
Kidnappers want a Php50-million ransom for the boy and the nanny, the Western Mindanao police said.
Police Regional Office 9 director Chief Supt. Juanito B. Vano Jr. said members of the Pagadian City Police Station and the Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office are involved in the operation.
“Right now, there are ongoing follow-up operations to identify and arrest the kidnappers and secure the safe release of the victims,” he said.
Timothy Sokolob and his nanny Caroline Remetre were snatched by still unidentified armed men inside Rosario Homes in Bgy. Dao, Pagadian City, at 9 a.m. Thursday, he said.
An initial investigation showed that Remetre was taking her ward for a stroll when the suspects who were on board a blue sedan arrived and snatched them without any warning.
Vano said they are looking into at least three motives behind the abduction of the two but refrained from making them public for the meantime.
Vano said they are asking for the full cooperation of the victim’s family amid reports that armed men also barged into the house of the Sokolobs last January 24, hogtied all its occupants before ransacking the place and carting away an undetermined amount of cash and valuables.
Month-long activities cap world wetlands day celebration
- Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/02/month-long-activities-cap-world.html
- Friday, February 8, 2013 9:23 am
- By Jocelyn P. Alvarez (FPG/JPA/PIA9)
PAGADIAN CITY, Feb 8. (PIA) - - In celebration of the World Wetlands Day (WWD), the Protected Areas Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Services (PAWCZMS) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has lined up several activities to mark the occasion and to drum up public awareness.
Roservirico Tan, chief of DENR-IX’s Information Division said “although the WWD is being celebrated every second of February, the environment office has prepared series of activities from Jan. 14 to Feb. 25.”
Tan added that the almost two-month long celebration is geared to raise people’s awareness of the interdependence between water and wetlands.
He said awareness activities include Information, Education Communication (IEC) campaign in selected school and communities among others.
To highlight ways to ensure the equitable sharing of water among the different stakeholder groups, DENR has involved local officials & focal persons of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur in Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing and orientation on the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) program implementation .
“We have been hopping around through radio plugs and guesting, press releases, social mobilization to increase people’s awareness and understanding that without the wetlands there will be no water,” Tan stressed.
Other activities include Sagun Dive Tour, Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment (PCRA) and ICM planning.
This year’s WWD theme is “Wetlands and Water Management.” Wetlands are areas covered with water either natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, static or flowing water, fresh/brackish/saline water, including marine areas where water level at low tide does not exceed six (6) meters. Coral reef, swamp forest, non-forested swamp, sea grass bed, rice paddies, coastal marsh, estuary, lake, river, and aquaculture are types of wetlands in Asia.
Wetland ecosystem supports the life cycle of important plants and animals and serves as windbreak, shoreline stabilization and storm protection, ground replenishment, among other functions.
MVR 2 to stir the spirit of volunteerism, says PRC-ZDS chapter
- Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/02/mvr-2-to-stir-spirit-of-volunteerism.html
- Thursday, February 7, 2013 4:22 pm
- By Claro A. Lanipa (FPG/CAL/PIA9)
PAGADIAN CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA) – “The Million Volunteer Run (MVR) 2 primarily aims to stir the spirit of volunteerism,” said Dr. Reynaldo Ortiz, chairman of the board, Philippine Red Cross-Zamboanga del Sur (PRC-ZDS) chapter in a media forum held on Tuesday by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at Anastacia Pensionne House in this city. “MVR 2 is a nationwide event which also aimed at raising funds to support the programs of the Red Cross and to raise people’s awareness as to what PRC really is,” Ortiz explained.
”Majority of us knew, PRC is only working in times of calamities, where in fact, it has several other functions and services that we need to help,” Ortiz said.
“Aside from giving assistance to victims of calamities, the blood donation program of the government is also being coursed through the PRC,” Ortiz further said.
Meanwhile, Rey Quisumbing, MVR2 chairman, has encouraged everyone to participate in this laudable event involving the local government units, national and local offices, schools and civic organizations.
A registration fee of P50 for student-volunteers and P100 for professionals and adults will be collected.
Registered volunteers/participants shall each receive a whistle as a token of appreciation.
According to Quisumbing, the money generated will be used for Red Cross programs, more particularly on disaster preparedness, and other activities undertaken by the PRC.
On the same occasion, Leonila Tecson, PRC-ZDS Fund Campaign Committee chair, said the core of the Red Cross movement is the people, as it is a humanitarian organization.
“The power of humanity lies on the help of the people around us. To all who have supported the Red Cross, we are thankful and we hope that you will continue to support us. Our selfless and dedicated members are always there, ready to respond to any emergencies,” declared Tecson.
LGUs receive IT equipments from DOLE
- Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/02/lgus-receive-it-equipments-from-dole.html
- Wednesday, February 6, 2013 9:01 pm
- By Fortunato Magsayo (FMagsayo/DOLE9/PIA9/alt)
PAGADIAN CITY, Feb 6 (PIA) - - To effectively intensify employment facilitation and promotion through the Skills Registry System (SRS), and to assist job seekers and the new entrants to the world of work, DOLE 9 Regional Director Sisinio B. Cano, together with the newly installed Chief Labor and Employment Officer of Zamboanga del Sur Field Office, Lourdes B. Amores turned-over complete sets of information technology equipments valued at P 43,000 for the municipalities of Tukuran and Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur.
Mayor Francisvic S. Villamiro of Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur together with the council members and department heads received the equipment in a simple turnover ceremony recently, while SB member Leonilo Borinaga, of the municipality of Ramon Magsaysay received the same equipment at the municipal hall.
DOLE’s SRS is lodged in the Public Employment Service Office of both municipalities through its PESO managers Jovito S. Ondiano and Clarissa V. Torralba, in Tukuran and Ramon Magsaysay, respectively, to capture live registry of skills of the constituents in the areas for eventual job-skills matching and to facilitate other types of assistance from DOLE.
PRC to hold MVR year 2 on Feb. 10
- Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/02/prc-to-hold-mvr-year-2-on-feb-10.html
- Tuesday, February 5, 2013 5:16 pm
- By Gideon C. Corgue (FPG/GCC/PIA,Pagadian City)
PAGADIAN CITY, February 5 (PIA) -- The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) is now intensifying the involvement among youth and adult volunteers in its different projects/programs to make them more useful and responsible citizens of the country.
PNRC Million Volunteer Run (MVR) committee chair Rey E. Quisumbing in a press release said the PRC will be holding its nationwide MVR year 2 on Feb. 10 with the tagline, “I choose to run to save lives.”
He said the first MVR that was held on Dec. 4, 2011 was a huge success with the participation of 450,000 runners.
According to Quisumbing, the MVR aims to serve as a driving force in advancing the spirit of volunteerism to address today’s humanitarian challenges.
“The PNRC also strives to empower the nation against dangers of disaster by developing our youth and volunteers as humanitarian soldiers. The MVR also hopes to raise funds for PNRC youth and volunteers trainings on disaster management and equipping every community with the life-saving skills,” Quisumbing added.
The MVR chair said a registration fee of P50.00 will be charged for each student/pupil runner and P100.00 for employees, businessman, company owners and officers. Registrants will receive a registration form and a whistle.
The assembly time will be at 5:00 a.m. in front of the city hall and the run will start at exactly 6:00 a.m. where all runners are requested to wear red shirt during the run, said Quisumbing.
For further details, please contact telephone no. 2141-717 or mobile phone no. 0948912281 and look for Ms. Gretsen M. Puerte, Chapter Service Representative.
NCCA to hold visual arts festival in Pagadian City
- Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/02/ncca-to-hold-visual-arts-festival-in.html
- Friday, February 1, 2013 9:29 am
- By Claro A. Lanipa (FPG/CAL/PIA9)
PAGADIAN CITY, Feb. 1 (PIA) – In consonance with the celebration of the National Arts Month this February, the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA), National Committee for Visual Arts will showcase Philippine Visual Arts Festival in Pagadian City come Feb. 7 -11.
During the PIA Media Forum held last week at the Subanen Hall, Provincial Government Center at Barangay Dao this city, NCCA Deputy Executive Director Marlene Sanchez said this year’s festival theme is “Ani ng Sining” with a subtheme “Celebrating Icons.”
“A number of visual artists from all over the country are expected to come and participate. Various visual art works will also be displayed during the four-day festivity,” Sanchez said.
On the other hand, Nemesio Miranda, head of NCCA’s National Committee on Visual Arts, said that in his three years as committee head, it was decided to bring the arts festival down to the regions, “considering that there are so many artists in the regions who could not afford to go to Manila to participate in the annual event.” One main purpose of bringing the arts congress to the regions, is to have a head count of all visual artists in the country, Miranda added.
He further said “the NCCA will come up with a national visual artist directory, and through this directory we can give them information and updates as to the programs of NCCA, giving them equal footing and opportunities with the artist based in Manila. It also serves as a venue for fellowship among visual artists.” The congress, he said, also aims to listen to the issues and concerns of visual artists in order to thresh out and resolve their problems. “Nobody will help us, except us – nobody knows the solutions to the problems of the visual artists except the visual artists themselves,” Miranda stressed.